Electric pencil sharpener



Aug. 25, 1959 G. A. JOHNSON ELECTRIC PENCIL SHARPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1958 AFTOQUEYS 5, 1959 G. A. JOHNSON 2,900,958

ELECTRIC PENCIL SHARPENER 7 Filed Aug. 22. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEZALD A .doHMsou 2,900,958 ELECTRIC PENCIL SHARPENER Gerald A. Johnson, Malta, Ill. Application August 22', 1958,: Serial No. 756,623

3 Claims. (c1, 120-96) This invention relates to pencil Sharpeners, and more particularly to an electrically operated pencil sharpener adapted to be placed on a desk or similar location for convenient use by a person desiring to sharpen a pencil.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved electric pencil sharpener whichis simple in con struction, which is easy to use, and which does not require fastening in place for operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electric pencil sharpener which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, which is compact in size, which is neat in appearance, and which does not require the use of fastenings to secure same in a stationary position for use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of an improved electric pencil sharpener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross sec tional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but showing the auxiliary housing removed from the main housing of the pencil sharpener.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved electrically operated pencil sharpener according to this invention. The pencil sharpener 11 comprises a main housing consisting of a horizontal base plate 12 to which is secured a generally rectangular receptacle 13, said receptacle being provided with the recessed base flange 14 which receives the marginal portions of the base plate 12. As shown in Figure 5, the main receptacle 13 terminates a substantial distance short of the transverse forward end edge 15 of the base plate 12 and the main receptacle is open forwardly. A marginal bottom rirn member 16 of resilient deformable material, such as rubber, or the like, is secured beneath the margin of the base plate 12 and the bottom surfaces of the flange 14, said rim member 16 providing a resilient support for the pencil sharpener and preventing scratching or marring of underlying supporting surfaces.

The main receptacle 13 is provided with the respective vertical side walls 17 and 18, with the arcuately curved top wall 19 and with the vertical transverse rear end wall 20. Designated at 21 is a wall element which is pivoted in the main receptacle 13 and whichis shaped to engage in an aperture 22 formed at one side of the arcuate top wall 19 and extending downwardly through a portionof the vertical side wall 17. Thus, the closure "member 21 is hingedly connected to a pair ofdepending ,pivot lugs 23, 23 provided at the opposite side edges of Patented Aug. 25, 1959 "ice the aperture 22 at its uppermost end, the closure member 21 being provided with depending pivot lugs 24, 24 which extend parallel and adjacent to the pivot lugs 23, 23 and which are pivotally connected thereto by a horizontally extending pin 25 which extends longitudinally in the main receptacle 13., The pivoted wall element 21 is provided at its bottom margin with an inwardly ofiset stop flange .26 which is engageable with the bottom longitudinal edge of the aperture 22 to limit outward movement of the pivoted wall element to a positionwherein it is substantially flush with the adjacent outer surfaces of the main receptacle 13.

, Mounted in the, main receptacle 13 is an electric motor 27 having the longitudinally extending shaft 28 and provided at its rear end with. a ventilating fan assembly 29, aslshown in Figure 2. The rear wall 20 of the main receptacle 13 is formed with a suitable ventilating aperture30. located adjacent the ventilating fan 29,

The motor 27 is preferably provided with a main housing of insulating material so that the switch contacts associated therewith, shown at 31 and 32 may be mounted directly on said motor housing. However, said motor housing may be made of metal in which case the switch contacts 31 and 32 will be suitably insulated therefrom by the provision of conventional insulating bushings between the switch contact elements 31 and 32 and their associated. fastening bolts, shown at 33 and 34. The switch contact element 31 comprises a leaf spring which is bent so that it has a substantially horizontal top portion 35, said leaf spring being secured to the motor housing, so that the horizontal top portion 35 extends transversely beneath the pivoted wall element 21, as shown in Figure 2. The cooperating switch contact element 32 is.simil-arly upwardly offset so that it has a horizontal top portion 37 located subjacent and being normally spaced below the horizontal portion 35 of the firstnamed switch contact member 31.

Secured to the underside of the pivoted wall element 21 immediately above the superimposed horizontal switch contact portions 35 and 37 is a generally U-shaped, depending bracket member 38 which is provided on its bottom portion with an insulating lining 39 which normally rests on the top surface of the horizontal portion 35 of the resilient contact element 31, as shown in Figure 4. The resilient "contact member 31 thus exerts a gentle biasing action upwardly on the bracket member 38 which biases the pivoted wall element 21 toward a closed position, as shown in Figure 3, wherein its upper surfaces. are substantially flush with the adjacent outer surfaces of the main receptacle 13. As shown in Figure 4, the horizontal portions 35 and 37 of the switch contact elements 31 and; 32 are normally separated, but may be brought into engagement by exerting an inward force. on the pivoted wall member 21,

The electric motor 27 is provided with an energizing circuit including a pair ofline Wires 40 and 41. The line wire 40 comprises one of the conductors of a conventional two-conductor line, cord 42. The conductor 41 connected electrically to the switch contact member-32., The switch contact, member 31 is electrically connected to, the remaining conductor 43 of the line cord .42, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the motor 27 becomes energizedwhen the contact members 31 and 32 are broughtinto conductive engagementwith each other responsive .to an inward force exerted'on the pivoted wall element 21.

,nated at.45 is a bracket member which is mounted on ,the base plate .12 inwardly-of the r'im flange 44, said bracketmember being formed atits upper portion with a longitudinally extending bearing ,sleeve 46. Secured to the bracket member 45 substantially in the same transverse vertical plane as the rim flange 44 and coaxial with the bearing sleeve 46 is an internally toothed ring gear 47. A transverse plate member 48 is rigidly secured between the upper portion of. bracket member 45 and the upper portion of the rim flange 44, securely bracing the bracket member and maintaining the ring gear 47 in a stationary, concentric position relative to the axis of the bearing sleeve 46.

Journaled in the bearing sleeve 46 is a shaft 49 which is provided on its inner end with a relatively large gear 50 which meshingly engages with a pinion gear 51 mounted on the forward end of motor shaft 28. Shaft 49 is formed integrally with a yoke member 52 having parallel longitudinally extending side arms 53, said side arms merging at their forward ends with a tubular guide sleeve 54 having a reduced forward end portion 55, as shown in Figure 2.

Integrally formed with the sleeve 54 are a pair of opposing inclined rearwardly diverging arms 56, 56 which are located in a longitudinal plane transverse to the plane of the parallel yoke arms 53. Designated at 57, 57 are a pair of opposed helically-bladed sharpened rollers which are journaled between the arms 56 and the bight portion of the yoke 52, said rollers being arranged on rearwardly converging axes located symmetrically on opposite sides of the axis of the shaft 49. The sharpening rollers 57, 57 are provided on their inner ends with pinion gear elements 58, 58 which meshingly engage with the teeth of the ring gear 47, whereby the rollers are rotated responsive to the rotation of shaft 49.

Designated at 60 is an auxiliary housing member which is engageable on the rim flange 44 and on the forward portion of the resilient base strip 16, said auxiliary housing being formed internally of its bottom rim with a recess 61 in which the forward edge portions of the plate member 12 are receivable. The auxiliary housing 60 is formed in its inner vertical transverse wall 62 with a generally circular opening '63 adapted to receive the forwardly extending portions of yoke 52, including the sharpening rollers 57, 57, and being adapted to slidably engage on the outer peripheral portion of the ring gear 47, the wall 62 being formed with the annular flange 64 surrounding the opening 63. As shown in Figure 2, the annular flange 64 is of sufiicient diameter to slidably receive the annular outer flange portion 65 of the ring gear 47.

The forward end wall 66 of auxiliary housing 60 is formed with a circular aperture 67 adapted to receive the reduced forward end portion 55 of the sleeve member 54. Thus, the auxiliary housing 60 provides a means for storing pencil shavings, but is readily disengageable from the main housing portion of the pencil sharpener so that said stored shavings may be emptied from the auxiliary housing whenever necessary.

-In use of the device, a pencil is inserted through the guide sleeve 54 'into engagement with the sharpening rollers 57, 57 and inward force is exerted on the pivoted wall element 21, causing the contacts 31 and 32 to be closed, whereby the motor 27 is energized. Motor 27 drives the shaft 49 through the meshing gears 51 and 50, causing the yoke 52 to be rotated, and simultane ously causing the sharpening rollers 57, 57 to be rotated around their own axes as they rotate around the axis of the shaft 49. The pencil shavings drop into the lower portion of the auxiliary housing 60 where they may be stored until a sufficient quantity has been accumulated making it necessary to empty the auxiliary housing.

It will be noted that it is not necessary to attach the pencil sharpener to a stationary surface, since the motor 27 will drive the sharpening rollers 57, 57 responsive merely to the inward force exerted on the pivoted wall element 21. Thus, a person .may hold the pencil in the housing 13 so as to prevent undesired movement thereof while the motor 27 is energized.

While a specific embodiment of an improved electric pencil sharpener has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric pencil sharpener comprising a main housing having a top wall formed with an aperture, an

electric motor mounted in said main housing subjacent said aparture, a horizontal shaft journaled in said main housing, means drivingly coupling said motor to said shaft, a resilient switch contact on said motor, a second switch contact on said motor beneath said first-named contact, a closure element pivoted in said aperture above said resilient switch contact and being engageable therewith to cause said resilient switch contact to engagesaid second switch contact responsive to downward manual force exerted on said closure element, said resilient switch contact biasing said closure element upwardly in said aperture to a position substantially flush with said top wall, an energizing circuit connected to said motor and including said switch contacts, guide bracket means rigidly secured on said shaft including a tubular end portion spaced from and axially aligned with said shaft and adapted to receive a pencil, a pair of opposed helically-bladed sharpening rollers journaled in said guide bracket means inwardly adjacent said tubular end portion on inclined inwardly converging axes, and cooperating gear means in said housing and on said rollers constructed and arranged to rotate said rollers responsive to rotation of said shaft.

2. An electric pencil sharpener comprising a main housing having a top wall formed with an aperture, an electric motor mounted in said main housing subjacent said aperture, a horizontal shaft journaled in said main housing, means drivingly coupling said motor to said shaft, a resilient switch contact on said motor, a second switch contact on said motor beneath said first-named contact, a closure element pivoted in said aperture above said resilient switch contact and being engageable therewith to cause said resilient switch contact to engage said second switch contact responsive to downward manual force exerted on said closure element, said resilient switch contact biasing said closure element upwardly in said aperture, means limiting upward movement of said closure element to a position wherein it is substantially flush with said top wall, an energizing circuit connected to said motor and including said switch contacts, guide bracket means rigidly secured on said shaft including a tubular end portion spaced from and axially aligned with said shaft and adapted to receive a pencil, a pair of opposed helically-bladed sharpening rollers journaled in said guide bracket means inwardly adjacent said tubular end portion on inclined inwardly converging axes, an internally toothed ring gear mounted in said housing coaxially with said shaft, and pinion gears on said rollers meshing with said ring gear and arranged to rotate said rollers around their own axes responsive to rotation of said shaft.

3. An electric pencil sharpener comprising a main housing having a top wall formed with an aperture, an electric guide sleeve '54 with one hand and exert inward force on the pivoted wall element 21 with the other hand. Said other hand may also be employed to steady the main motor mounted in said main housing subjacent said aperture, a horizontal shaft journaled in said main housing, means drivingly coupling said motor to said shaft, a resilient switch contact on said motor, a second switch contact on said motor beneath said first-named contact, a closure element pivoted in said aperture above said resilient switch contact and being engageable therewith to cause said resilient switch contact to engage said second switch contact responsive to downward manual force exerted on said closure element, said resilient switch contact biasing said closure element upwardly in said aperture, means limiting upward movement of said closure tion spaced from and axially aligned with said shaft and 5 adapted to receive a pencil, a pair of opposed helicallybladed sharpening rollers journaled in said guide bracket means inwardly adjacent said tubular end portion on inclined inwardly converging axes, an internally toothed ring gear mounted in said housing coaxially with said shaft, 10

pinion gears on said rollers meshing with said ring gear and arranged to rotate said rollers on their own axes responsive to rotation of said shaft, and an auxiliary hous- 6 ing member removably engageable with an end portion of said main housing and being constructed and arranged to receive said rollers, said auxiliary housing having a vertical transverse end wall formed with an aperture aligned with and adapted to rotatably receive the: outer extremity of said tubular end portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

